Illuminated sign



Dec. 22, 41942. 4H, HAMMAR Q 2,305,694

ILLUMINATED SIGN' Filled June 19, i940 LV 73" .f5

BY:- .y v ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 22, 1942 y 2,305,694 l mLUMINATED SIGN Herbert G. Hammar,

Federal Electric Com Chicago, Ill., assignor to pany, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of New York v Application June 19, 1940, Serial No. 341,332 9 Claims. ((lll. I0- 130) My invention relates in general to signs and sign construction and has more particular reference to illuminated signs.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for mounting transformers and other power delivery means in the sign; a further object being to provide a neat, convenient, readily accessible housing for the transformers, which housing forms a decorative feature of the sign and at the same time facilitates access to the transformers and connected conductors for service purposes.

Another important object is to provide a transformer housing which may be applied to an existing sign structure at minimum expense.

Yet another important object of the invention resides in providing, in a sign structure, a readily accessible housing for the enclosure of power delivery equipment, including transformers and conductors, which housing forms a decorative A.

feature in the sign and into which the ends of tubular lamp elements may extend, whereby all of the electrical connections may be accomplished within the housing, a further object being to provide a housing having a readily remov-y able cover affording access to the wiring and connections; a further object being to utilize the removable cover as a mounting for lamp units.

Among the other numerous important objects and advantages of the invention is the provision of -a sign structure greatly simplifying sign maintenance, in that all of the power distribution equipment and required connections with lamp units are enclosed in a readily accessible housing, forming a decorative feature and part of the sign itself.

Numerous other important objects, advantages and inherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a face view of a sign embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a, perspective view of housing elements forming a part of the sign shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a lamp mounting; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Figure 1.

' To illustrate my invention, I have shown on the drawing a' sign II comprising a pair of spaced-apart panels I3. The panels I3 may be supported in spaced relationship by channel members I5, as by welding or otherwise fasteningthe panels to the opposite sides of the spacing members, As shown, certain of the spacing members are arranged at and between the marginal edges of the panels and are connected to a tubular frame I'I extending at the marginal edges of the panels. The frame I'I and the panels mounted thereon may be supported in any suitable or preferred fashion, as by mounting the Sameon a preferably hollow post I 9 as by means off the mounting bracket 2l. At the top of the sign, an upright 23 may be carried on the frame I1 for the purpose of supporting any desired sign element, the upright 23, in the illustrated embodiment, comprising a tubular member preferably welded on the frame I l.

The outwardly facing surfaces of thmp'anels I3smay be provided with sign indicia 25 painted, enameled, orotherwise formed on the panels I3. As shown; the indicia 25 comprise an upper line 21 and a lower line 29 of word-forming letters which are outlined by tubular lamp elements 3I and 33 respectively. These lamp elements 3| and 33 are supported on the panels, in spaced relationshipinfront of the word-forming letters, by means of tube'mounting pedestals 35 which, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, may comprise a sheet metal clip 3l having a base adapted to be fastened onthe panel, as by means of screws 39. The clipV 31 has a socket-forming portion 4I adapted toscrew-threadedly receive the correspondingly threaded stem 43 of a pedestal member having a head 45 formed to provide a seat for the tubular lamp, the lamp being secured in the seat by means of wire's twisted about the stem 43 and over the lamp.

Preferably, the lamp means forming the outline for the upper word-forming letters comprises a single lamp element or a plurality of lamp elements interconnected to form a single series circuit; and the lamp means for outlining the lower word-forming letters 29 is also a single lamp element or lamp elements electrically interconnected to form a single series circuit.

I also prefer to provide lamp means supported on the frame I 'I in position to afford an edge lighting effect, said lamp means preferably comprising, as `shown in the illustrated embodiment, tubular elements 41 and 48 bent, as at 49, to provide short and long legs 5I and 53 adapted to extend along the short 'and long sides of the frame l1. The lamps 41 and 48 may be supported on the frame by the pedestals 35 mounted at intervals on the frame I1. The lamp means 41 may be formed in sections and interconnected to provide edge lighting means at the top and at the upper portions of the sides of the frame, while the lamp means 48 likewise may be formed in sections and interconnected to provide edge lighting means at the bottom and lower portions of the sides of the frame. The lamps at their point of interconnection are preferably formed with loops 55 which are disposed on opposite sides of the post I9 at the bottom of the sign and on the opposite sides of the upright 23 at the top of the sign. Of course, it is within the contemplation of my present invention to form the lamps 41 and 48 as an integral lamp element, although the sectional construction is preferred as a matter of convenience in mounting the lamps. Where formed sectionally, the looped ends 55 may be interconnected by a suitable conductor 51 which is preferably insulated. The adjacent ends of the lamp means 41 and 48 are also curled, as at 55, preferably opposite the midportions of the sides of the frame i1, the ends of the lamp means 41 being disposed on one side of the sign l l, while the ends of the lamp means 48 are disposed at the opposite side. Portions of the tubular lamp means may be made opaque as by painting the same, as shown at I, in order to give the curled end 59 the appearance of separate bars.

In order to supply power for the operation of the lamps 3l, 33, 41 and 48, I provide transformers B3 which are enclosed in elongated housings 65 mounted on the opposed faces of the sign; The housings preferably extend between the upper and lower word-forming letters 21 and 29. These housings may conveniently comprise each a channel member 51, the bottom of which may be attached on the panel means I3 in any preferred manner, as by means of screws 69. Thus mounted, the channel member 61 presents horizontal spaced-apart flanges 1I on the sign panel which flanges are provided at intervals with notches 13.

A box-like cover 15 is provided for attachment on the channel member 61 in order to form an enclosure, the cover means comprising side, end and top walls. The side walls of the cover are provided with knockout portions adapted to be removed to form notches 11 registering with the notches 13. The end wall of the cover also is provided with a knockout removable to form an opening 13. The transformers 63 are secured on the bottom of the channel 61 between the 'flanges 1I, the transformers being anchored in place in any suitable preferred or convenient means as, for example, by fastening screws. The opposite ends of the series tube circuit 3l extend through a pair of the notches 13 in the upper flange 1l, while the ends of the tube circuit 33 extend through a pair of notches 13 in the lowerl iiange 1|. lThe ends of the tube circuits 41 and 48 extend in the opposite ends of the channels 61, the tube circuit 41 extending in the channel on one side of the sign, while the tube circuit 43 extends in the channel on the opposite side of the sign panel.

The ends of the tube circuit 3l may be connected with the secondary of one of the transformers 53, t-he ends of the tube circuit 3l may be connected with the secondary of another oi the transformers, while the edge lighting tube circuit 41 may be connected with the secondary of the remaining transformer on one side of the sign. It will be seen that all of the necessary connections between the tube circuits and the transformers may be accomplished within the space between the flanges 1l of the channel. Thereupon the cover 15 may be applied by removing knockouts to form notches 11 and 19 opposite the channel openings occupied by the lamp ends forming the tube circuits. The cover 15 may be anchored in place on the channel member in any suitable or preferred manner, as by means of fastening screws 3l.

Power may be delivered to the primary windings of the transformers 53 by cable means 83 extending in the hollow post i9, thence through the tubular frame l1 and through a pipe 85 extending from the frame to the channel member 61, a suitable notch being formed in the cover 15 to accommodate the pipe 85. Alternately, the cable means could extend from the frame between the panels I3 and under the housing through a suitable opening formed in the bottom of the channel 51 for connection with the primary windings of the transformers 53.

In order to improve the appearance of the housing and to utilize it as a decorative feature of the sign, I may mount tubular lamps 81 on the cover 15 by means of supports 35, the ends of said lamps 81 being bent and secured in suitable sockets 89 mounted in openings formed in the top wall of the cover and providing means whereby the lamps 81 may be connected in series with the edge lighting lamp means and thus powered from one of the transformers @3. If desired, bushings of rubber-like material may be applied on the ends of the lamp means where the same extend through the openings 13, 11 and 19, although this is not an essential consideration.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustraitng the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A sign comprising a frame including a panel providing a background having indicia displaying portions, indicia means cn said portions, means forming a forwardly opening channel on said panel, tubular lamp means supported on said frame in position extending in front of said background and having terminal portions extending in said channel, transformer means in said channel, and a removable cover for closing said channel, the means forming the channel being arranged in position within the area of the background and between indicia displaying portions thereof, and said lamp means being supported in front of said indicia displaying portions on opposite sides of the channel.

2. A sign comprising a frame including a panel providing a background having indicia displaying portions, indicia means on said portions, means forming a forwardly opening channel on said panel, tubular lamp means supported on said frame in position extending in front of said background and having terminal portions extending `in said channel, transformer means in said channel, and a removable cover for closing said channel, the means forming the channel being arranged substantially medial'ly within the .area .of the background and between indicia displaying portions of said panel, said lamp means being supported in front of said indicia displaying portions on opposite sides of the channel, and a lamp element extending at the edge of said frame with lamp end portions extending in the channel at the opposite ends thereof.

3. A sign comprising a frame including a panel providing a background having indicia displaying portions, indicia means on said portions, means forming a forwardly opening channel on said panel, tubular lamp means supported on said frame in position extending in front of said back ground and having terminal portions extending in said channel, transformer means in said channel, and a removable cover for closing channel, the means forming the channel being arranged in position within the area of the background and between indicia displaying portions thereof, and said lamp means being supported in front of said indicia displaying portions on opporsite sides of the channel, said tubular lamp means having terminal ends extending in notches at the lateral edges of the channel, and said cover, when in place, overlying said lateral edges of the channel and enclosing said notches.

4. A sign comprising a frame including a panel providing a background having indicia displaying portions, indicia means on said portions, means forming a forwardly opening channel on said panel, tubular lamp means supported on said frame in position extending in front of said background and having terminal portions extending in said channel, transformer means in said channel, and a removable cover for closing said channel, the means forming the channel being arranged in position within the area of the background and between indicia displaying portions thereof, and said lamp means being supported in front of said indicia displaying portions on opposite sides of the channel, and lamp means supported on said cover and having terminal portions extending inwardly thereof for connection with said transformer means in said channel.

5. A sign comprising a frame including oppositely facing panels providing indicia displaying background surfaces, indicia means on said surfaces, tubular lamp means mounted at the top, bottom and side edges of the frame, and lamp means supported in front of said oppositely facing panels, means on each of said panels forming a channel in position within the area of the panels and opening forwardly thereof to receive the terminal ends of said tubular lamp means on opposite sides of the sign, transformer means in each of said channels and electrically connected with the terminal ends of said tubular lamp means therein, and a cover for enclosing each of said channels.

6. A sign comprising a frame including a panel providing a background having indicia displaylng portions, indicia means on said portions,

means forming a forwardly opening channel on said panel, tubular lamp means supported on said frame in position extending in front of said back-` ground and having terminal ends extending in said channel, transformer means in said channel, and a removable cover for closing said channel, said cover being formed at its edges with notches to accommodate the ends of said tubular lamp means.

7. A sign comprising a frame including oppositely facing panels providing indicia displaying background surfaces, indicia means on said surfaces, tubular lamp means mounted at the top, bottom and side edges of the frame, and lamp means supported in front of said oppositely facing panels, means on each of said panels forming a channel in position within the area of the panels and opening forwardly thereof to receive the terminal ends of said tubular lamp means, and transformer means in each of said channels, the lamp means disposed in front of one panel Yand portions of the lamp means mounted at the edges of the frame having terminal ing in the channel on one face of the sign and electrically connected with the transformer means therein, the lamp means on the other face ends extend- ,of the sign and the remaining portions of the lamp means mounted at the side edges of the frame having terminal ends extending in the other channel on the opposite face of the sign and electrically connected with the transformer means therein, whereby to equalize the loading on said transformer means.

8. A sign comprising support means forming a panel providing a background area, indicia means in said area, means on said panel forming a channel within the area of said panel and opening forwardly thereof, tubular lamp means supported on said support means in position extending in front of said background area and on opposite sides of said channel, said tubular lamp means having terminal portions extending laterally into said channel, electrical power supply means in said channel for connection with said terminal portions,and removable cover means for enclosingr said channel.

9. A sign comprising tubular means forming a frame, panel means mounted on and extending within said frame and providing a sign face for the display of indicia, means on said panel means forming a channel opening forwardly of the sign face, tubular lamp means on said sign in position extending in front of said face and having terminal portions extending in said channel, electrical power supply means in said channel for connection with said terminal portions, removable cover means for closing said channel, and an electrical cable extending in said tubular means, said cable being electrically connected with the power supply means in said channel and with an external power source.

HERBERT G. HAMMAR. 

